Utah has become the first U.S. state to prohibit fluoride in public drinking water, despite objections from dentists and major health organizations who argue that this action could result in various medical issues and have a greater negative impact on disadvantaged populations.
On Thursday, Republican Governor Spencer Cox signed a bill prohibiting municipalities and local communities from making decisions about adding the mineral to their water supplies.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fluoride fortifies teeth and decreases cavity formation by replenishing minerals that are typically depleted through regular use and abrasion.
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Lawmakers in Utah advocating for the ban argued that adding fluoride to drinking water was cost-prohibitive. Cox, who spent his childhood and parenthood in an area lacking fluoridated water, likened it lately to receiving involuntary medication from the government.
Effective from May 7th, this ban follows several weeks after U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his doubts regarding water fluoridation, took the oath of office.
The American Dental Association strongly condemned Cox and the Utah legislators, stating that the ban demonstrated a "reckless disregard" for the dental health and overall welfare of their constituents. They emphasized that tooth decay represents the most prevalent chronic disease among children.
"It’s disappointing as both a parent and a dentist to witness a well-established public health policy, designed for the collective dental wellbeing of an entire community, being overturned due to misleading pseudo-scientific claims,” stated Dr. Brett Kessler, the association's president and a Denver-based dentist.
Legislators in states such as Ohio, South Carolina, and Florida have proposed restrictions preventing local administrations or water system managers from fluoridating their water supplies.
Suggested limitations on water fluoridation in New Hampshire, Tennessee, and North Dakota have been dismissed. In Kentucky, a proposal to make fluoride addition voluntary has failed to advance in the state Senate.
Water fluoridation is regarded as the most economical method for preventing tooth decay on a broad scale. In the United States, over 200 million individuals, which constitutes nearly two-thirds of the country’s populace, have access to fluoride-treated public water supplies.
The incorporation of small amounts of fluoride into drinking water has often been regarded as one of the most significant public health accomplishments of the past hundred years.
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However, several cities nationwide have ceased adding fluoride to their water supplies, with other local governments contemplating similar actions. Recently, a federal judge mandated that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must oversee fluoride content in drinking water due to potential risks posed by elevated levels to children’s cognitive growth.
Brett Kessler, who serves as the president of the American Dental Association, has stated that the quantities of fluoride added to drinking water are at levels deemed safe and non-problematic.
According to the US National Institutes of Health, extremely high levels of fluoride that lead to illness usually occur due to uncommon incidents, like accidentally consuming fluoride from dental practices or improperly administering supplements to kids.
The agency claims that it is "extremely unlikely" to receive a harmful amount of fluoride, which can lead to broader health issues, when using fluoridated water or toothpaste as recommended.
Critics argue that the prohibition would have an uneven impact on low-income individuals who might depend solely on publicly supplied drinking water with added fluoride for essential oral health protection. These lower-income households could find it challenging to cover the costs associated with routine dental check-ups or purchase alternative fluoride supplements available in areas lacking such fluoridated water systems.
The legislator behind the bill in Utah, Republican Congresswoman Stephanie Gricius, admitted that fluoride has advantages, yet she stated that it should be up to individuals whether or not it is included in drinking water.
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In 2024, out of the 484 water systems in Utah that submitted data, just 66 added fluoride to their supply, according to an Associated Press review. The most substantial system among these was for Salt Lake City, which is also the state’s largest municipality.
In 2022, Utah was placed at 44th nationwide regarding the proportion of inhabitants who had access to fluoridated water, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.